Couperin, Rebel (2013)

Couperin, Rebel

Florilegium

The two composers presented on this recording both came from families of musicians active at the Court of Versailles. François Couperin entered the service of the King as organist of the Chapelle du Roi in 1693. He progressed rapidly and within a year he was ap- pointed harpsichord teacher to the Duke of Burgundy and most of the royal children. In 1696 Louis xiv ennobled him and a few years later he was made a Chevalier of the Lateran order. In the early part of the 18th century he composed a considerable amount of church music for Versailles. At this time he also regularly composed chamber music for the Concerts du Di- manche series at Court and by 1717 he had officially succeeded d’Anglebert the younger as the Ordinaire de la Musique. He had been exerting his influence and control of this position for some time before 1717 and had already succeeded in having a number of outstanding musici- ans in his charge, including the viola da gamba player Forqueray and the violinist Rebel. By 1710 Couperin’s contemporaries were already referring to him as Le Grand and many of his disciples had already dedicated compositions to him. In 1713 he took out a privilège du Roi in order to publish his works, printing his first book of harpsichord pieces, which had been written over the previous fifteen or so years. In 1716 he published his theoretical treatise L’Art de toucher de la Claveçin and his second book of harpsichord pieces then followed in 1717. After the death of Louis xiv (1715) he published some of his instrumental works under the title Les Goûts Réünis and the success of these encouraged him to publish some of his earlier sonatas originally from around 1692 and in the Italian style. To these sonatas he added a set of dances or suites in the French manner and titled the whole collection Les Nations, which appeared in 1726.

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Florilegium

Regular performances in some of the world’s most prestigious venues have confirmed Florilegium’s status as one of Britain’s most outstanding period instrument ensembles. Since their formation in 1991 they have established a reputation for stylish and exciting interpretations, from intimate chamber works to large-scale orchestral and choral repertoire.

Concert venues include Sydney Opera House, Esplanade (Singapore), Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall (London), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam),Konzerthaus (Vienna), Beethoven-Haus (Bonn), Handel-Haus (Halle) and Frick Collection (New York). The numerous residencies Florilegium have held over the years include being the first period instrument Ensemble-in-Residence at London’s Wigmore Hall. This Residency was for three seasons and involved the group performing several series of concerts each year and becoming actively involved in the Hall’s education work. Since September 2008 they have been Ensemble in Association at the Royal College of Music in London, where they are responsible for coaching 18th century baroque chamber music. Their over twenty recordings for Channel Classics have been awarded many prizes including a Gramophone Award nomination, Editor’s Choice from Gramophone, Diapasons d’Or and Chocs de la Musique. Florilegium’s cd of Telemann’s Paris Quartets Vol 2 received the Classical Internet Award from Classicstoday.com. The Bach Cantatas disc with Johannette Zomer was awarded a 2008 Edison Award, Dutch music’s most prestigious prize. The second volume of Baroque Music from Bolivian Missions was nominated for a 2008 bbc Music Magazine award, and bbc Music Magazine selected volume 3 as Disc of the Month for April 2010. A disc of music by Pergolesi was released in May 2010 and was bbc Music Magazine’s cd choice in the vocal category in July 2010. Future recordings include Florilegium’s arrangements of Bach’s Organ Trio Sonatas, and a recording of Couperin’s Les Nations.

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Couperin, Rebel (2013)

Couperin, Rebel

Florilegium

The Observer

(...) Stylish playing from the Florilegium chamber ensemble, with two particularly well-balanced flutes. (...)